Electronic plumbing fixture fitting including measurement system

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic plumbing fixture fitting including a measurement system. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting includes a user input module. The user input module includes a mechanism to receive from the user numerical value(s) of parameter(s) for water to be delivered through a discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting (e.g., volume or volume and temperature) and a mechanism to deliver to the user the numerical value(s) of the parameter(s) via the water delivered through the discharge outlet of the electronic plumbing fixture fitting.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:
 a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water; 
 an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume of water flowing through the discharge outlet; 
 a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume of water; 
 a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water; and 
 a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, and the flow sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water and the detected volume of water; 
 wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume of water from the user and to send a desired volume signal to the processor indicating the desired volume of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water at an initial low flow rate for a set period of time; 
 wherein the flow sensor is operable to detect the volume of water and to send a detected volume signal to the processor indicating the detected volume of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected volume signal from the flow sensor indicating the detected volume of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the volume of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the volume of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a full flow rate for a variable period of time; and 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate for a set period of time and close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the user input module is operable to provide the user with an option to dispense water immediately or to dispense water upon receipt of an input from the user. 
     
     
       3. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a variable flow rate after the initial low flow rate and before the final low flow rate. 
     
     
       4. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, after the electronic valve opens, the flow rate ramps up to the full flow rate; and 
 wherein, before the electronic valve closes, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the variable period of time is determined, in part, based on the desired volume and the full flow rate. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, before the electronic valve closes, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate; and 
 wherein a time at which the flow rate starts to ramp down is calculated based on a time needed for the electronic valve to close or a volume at which the flow rate starts to ramp down is calculated based on a volume of water that is delivered while the electronic valve is closing. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, after the electronic valve opens, the flow rate ramps up at a linear rate; and 
 wherein, before the electronic valve closes, the flow rate ramps down at a linear rate. 
 
     
     
       8. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:
 a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water; 
 an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume and a temperature of water flowing through the discharge outlet; 
 a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume and a desired temperature of water; 
 a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water; 
 a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of water; and 
 a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, the flow sensor, and the temperature sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water, the detected volume of water, the desired temperature of water, and the detected temperature of water; 
 wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume and the desired temperature of water from the user and to send a desired volume and desired temperature signal to the processor indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume and desired temperature signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume and the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume and the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water; 
 wherein the temperature sensor is operable to detect the temperature of water and to send a detected temperature signal to the processor indicating the detected temperature of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to close and the flow of water is stopped once the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water; 
 wherein, once the flow of water is stopped, the user input module is operable to communicate with the user regarding a desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water; 
 wherein, once the user inputs the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the user input module is operable to send a desired time signal to the processor indicating the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired time signal from the user input module indicating the desired time for delivery of the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water and to send a delivery signal to the electronic valve to deliver the water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the delivery signal from the processor to deliver the water; 
 wherein, at the desired time, the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water; and 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 8 , wherein the user input module communicates with the user regarding the desired time for delivery of the water by notifying the user once the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water. 
     
     
       10. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 8 , wherein the user input module communicates with the user regarding the desired time for delivery of the water by receiving an input from the user when the user is ready for the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water to be delivered. 
     
     
       11. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the electronic valve includes a cold water electronic valve and a hot water electronic valve; 
 wherein, when the electronic valve is opened to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the cold water electronic valve is opened prior to the hot water electronic valve; and 
 wherein, when the electronic valve is closed once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the hot water electronic valve is closed prior to the cold water electronic valve. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 8 ,
 wherein, after the electronic valve opens to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at an initial low flow rate; and 
 wherein, before the electronic valve closes once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 8 ,
 wherein, after the electronic valve opens to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the flow rate ramps up to a full flow rate; 
 wherein, before the electronic valve closes once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate; and 
 wherein control of the temperature of water being delivered is stopped at approximately the same time as the flow rate ramp down is started. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 8 , wherein, when the electronic valve opens before the detected temperature of water is approximately equal to the desired temperature of water, the electronic valve delivers water at a flow rate that is greater than the initial low flow rate and the final low flow rate. 
     
     
       15. An electronic plumbing fixture fitting, comprising:
 a discharge outlet, the discharge outlet operable to deliver water; 
 an electronic valve, the electronic valve operable to permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is activated and to not permit flow of water through the discharge outlet when the electronic valve is deactivated, the electronic valve operable to control a volume and a temperature of water flowing through the discharge outlet; 
 a user input module, the user input module operable to communicate with a user regarding a desired volume and a desired temperature of water; 
 a flow sensor, the flow sensor operable to detect a volume of water; 
 a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of water; and 
 a processor, the processor operable to communicate with each of the electronic valve, the user input module, the flow sensor, and the temperature sensor regarding at least one of the desired volume of water, the detected volume of water, the desired temperature of water, and the detected temperature of water; 
 wherein the user input module is operable to receive the desired volume and the desired temperature of water from the user and to send a desired volume and desired temperature signal to the processor indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the desired volume and desired temperature signal from the user input module indicating the desired volume and the desired temperature of water and to send a first control signal to the electronic valve to control the volume and the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the first control signal from the processor to control the volume and the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to open and deliver water at an initial low flow rate for a set period of time; 
 wherein the flow sensor is operable to detect the volume of water and to send a detected volume signal to the processor indicating the detected volume of water; 
 wherein the temperature sensor is operable to detect the temperature of water and to send a detected temperature signal to the processor indicating the detected temperature of water; 
 wherein the processor is operable to receive the detected volume signal from the flow sensor indicating the detected volume of water and the detected temperature signal from the temperature sensor indicating the detected temperature of water and to send a second control signal to the electronic valve to further control the volume and the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to receive the second control signal from the processor to further control the volume and the temperature of water; 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a full flow rate for a variable period of time; and 
 wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a final low flow rate for a set period of time and close once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the user input module is operable to provide the user with an option to dispense water immediately or to dispense water once the detected temperature is approximately equal to the desired temperature and the user input module has received an input from the user when the user is ready for the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water to be delivered. 
     
     
       17. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the user input module is operable to provide the user with an option to dispense water immediately or to dispense water upon receipt of an input from the user. 
     
     
       18. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic valve is operable to deliver water at a variable flow rate after the initial low flow rate and before the final low flow rate. 
     
     
       19. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the variable period of time is determined, in part, based on the desired volume and the full flow rate. 
 
     
     
       20. The electronic plumbing fixture fitting of  claim 15 ,
 wherein, after the electronic valve opens to deliver the desired volume of water at the desired temperature of water, the flow rate ramps up to the full flow rate; 
 wherein, before the electronic valve closes once the detected volume of water is approximately equal to the desired volume of water, the flow rate ramps down from the full flow rate; and 
 wherein control of the temperature of water being delivered is stopped at approximately the same time as the flow rate ramp down is started.